Whitehouse Dam
Whitehouse Dam is an earth dam located in Smith County, Texas, built in 1949. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Whitehouse Dam
The primary purpose of Whitehouse Dam is water supply. The dam stores water for municipal, industrial, or agricultural use, helping ensure a reliable supply for the surrounding area. The dam is owned by City Of Tyler (local government). It impounds the Prairie Creek.
The dam stands 50 feet tall and stretches 4,709 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 3,584 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 85,810 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 45 square miles. Completed in 1949, the structure is well-established, with more than 75 years of service.
This dam carries a high hazard potential classification, which means that a failure or uncontrolled release of water would likely cause loss of human life. This classification reflects the consequences of failure, not the likelihood — it indicates that people live or work in the area downstream. Its condition is rated satisfactory, indicating no existing or potential dam safety deficiencies are recognized. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 09/22/2021.
At 50 feet, this dam is taller than 93% of dams nationwide.
Living Downstream
If you live or work downstream of this dam, consider taking these steps: learn your local evacuation routes, check whether your county emergency management office has a dam failure inundation map, and sign up for local emergency alerts. The Texas dam safety program can provide more specific information about emergency planning for this structure.
Search for dams near your address to see all dams in your area with hazard classifications and safety data.
Location
| State | Texas |
| County | Smith |
| River/Stream | Prairie Creek |
| Coordinates | 32.20882, -95.16924 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 50 ft |
| Dam Height | 50 ft |
| Dam Length | 4,709 ft |
| Year Completed | 1949 (77 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 85,810 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 85,810 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 42,500 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 3,584 acres |
| Drainage Area | 45 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 32,666 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Water Supply |
| Owner | CITY OF TYLER |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 09/22/2021 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | TX00245 |
| Federal ID | TX00245 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |